Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’, characterized by its double anemone-type inflorescences with lanceolate-shaped, salmon pink-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical description: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona Lisa Pink, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor in April, 2003 as a single flowering plant within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings harvested in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since May, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Mona Lisa Salmon has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Double anemone-type inflorescences with lanceolate-shaped,         salmon pink-colored ray florets; typically grown as a         spray-type.     -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Early and uniform flowering response.     -   5. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar Mona Lisa Pink. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Mona Lisa Pink primarily in ray floret coloration.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Dekdakar, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,009. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed primarily from plants of the cultivar Dekdakar in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had more leaves and         inflorescences per plant than the cultivar Dekdakar.     -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had shorter ray florets than         plants of the cultivar Dekdakar.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were salmon         pink in color whereas ray florets of plants of the cultivar         Dekdakar were yellow in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of upper and lower surfaces of typical inflorescences and typical leaves of ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were about five kilolux. Plants were pinched once and were about eleven weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Mona     Lisa Salmon. -   Commercial classification: Double anemone-type Chrysanthemum     typically grown as a spray-type cut flower. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the     Chrysanthemum×morifolium Mona Lisa Pink, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 6 days at 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 14 days at             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 16 days at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine and freely branching; light brown in             color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous double anemone-type cut             Chrysanthemum; typically grown as a spray-type; erect and             strong flowering stems. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Flowering stem description.—Length: About 80 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Aspect:             Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown as single             stems. Color: 146A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About             6.5 to 12 cm. Width: About 4.5 to 8 cm. Apex: Cuspidate.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed. Texture, upper and             lower surface: Pubescent; rough. Petiole length: About 2 to             3 cm. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper             surface: 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower             surface: 147B. Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation,             lower surface: 146B. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces:             146B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Double anemone-type inflorescence from with             lanceolate-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on             terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop             acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences not fragrant.             Typically grown as a spray-type.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant             typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At             other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and             development can be induced under short day/long night             conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed             to long day/short night conditions after planting followed             by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower             about 7.5 weeks later. Early and uniform flowering response.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Cut inflorescences will maintain             good substance and form for about 3.5 weeks.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 20 to             25 inflorescences per flowering stem.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 5 to 6 cm. Depth             (height): About 2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 138A.         -   Ray florets.—Length: About 2 to 3 cm. Width: About 8 to             12 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per             inflorescence: About 40 in numerous whorls. Color: When             opening, upper surface: N170D. When opening, lower surface:             159C. Fully opened, upper surface: 69C. Fully opened, lower             surface: 76D.         -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular; elongated. Length: About 7 to             14 mm. Width: About 1 to 3 mm. Number of disc florets per             inflorescence: About 50. Color: Immature: 144C to 144D.             Mature: Apex: 145B. Mid-section: 158D. Base: 145C.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2 cm. Length,             fourth peduncle: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 4 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: 146A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Anther color: Close to 151B. Pollen: None observed.             Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Stigma             length: About 1 mm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma             color: Close to 151B.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to known Chrysanthemum pathogens     and pests has not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Salmon’, as illustrated and described. 